Psychology Chapter 4: Classical and Operant Conditioning, Motivation, and Learning

What is classical conditioning?

A process of learning in which one stimulus signals the arrival of another stimulus.

Who was the first researcher to systematically study classical conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov

What is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

A stimulus in a reflex that automatically elicits an unconditioned response.

What is the conditioned stimulus (CS)?

A stimulus that comes to elicit a new response (the conditioned response) in classical conditioning.

What was the main finding of Pavlov's Dog Study?

Dogs began to salivate at the sound of a tone before food was presented.

What is the unconditioned response (UCR)?

A response in a reflex that is automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.

What is the conditioned response (CR)?

A response that is elicited by the conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning.

What is delayed conditioning?

A procedure where the CS is presented until after the UCS is presented, causing both stimuli to occur simultaneously.

What is trace conditioning?

The period of time between the offset of the CS and the onset of the UCS when neither stimulus is present.

What was the outcome of the 'Little Albert' study?

Albert developed a fear of the white rat after it was paired with a loud noise.

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

The disappearance of the CR when the UCS no longer follows the CS.

What is spontaneous recovery?

The reappearance of the CR after a rest interval during the extinction process.

What is stimulus generalization?

Elicitation of the CR to a stimulus similar to the CS.

What is stimulus discrimination?

Learning to give the CR only to the CS or a small set of similar stimuli.

What is operant conditioning?

Learning to associate behaviors with their consequences.

What does the Law of Effect state?

Any behavior that results in satisfying consequences tends to be repeated.

What is a reinforcer?

A stimulus that increases the probability of a prior response.

What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

A process by which the probability of a response is decreased by the presentation of a punisher.

What is positive reinforcement?

The presentation of an appetitive stimulus following a response, increasing the likelihood of that response.

What is negative punishment?

The removal of an appetitive stimulus following a response, decreasing the likelihood of that response.

What is the Premack Principle?

The opportunity to perform a highly frequent behavior can reinforce a less frequent behavior.

What is evaluative classical conditioning?

Changes in liking of a stimulus that result from pairing that stimulus with other positive or negative stimuli.

Who conducted the study on deconditioning a fear of rabbits?

Mary Cover Jones

What is an appetitive stimulus?

A stimulus that an organism finds pleasing, such as food or money.

What is an aversive stimulus?

A stimulus that an organism finds unpleasing, such as sickness or social isolation.

What is the role of reinforcement in learning?

Reinforcement increases the probability of a response.

What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement involves presenting a stimulus, while negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus.

What is behavior modification?

Application of classical and operant conditioning principles to eliminate undesirable behavior and teach more desirable behavior.

What is a primary reinforcer?

An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as food or social contact.

What is a secondary reinforcer?

A stimulus that gains reinforcing properties through learning, such as money or good grades.

What did Hefferline and colleagues demonstrate about operant conditioning?

Operant conditioning can occur without a person's awareness.

What is shaping in operant conditioning?

Training an animal to make a particular response by reinforcing successively closer approximations to the desired response.

What does a cumulative record depict?

The total number of responses over time in an operant conditioning experiment.

What is acquisition in operant conditioning?

The strengthening of the reinforced operant response.

What is extinction in operant conditioning?

The disappearance of the operant response when it is no longer reinforced.

What is a discriminative stimulus?

A stimulus that must be present for the operant response to be reinforced.

What is a continuous schedule of reinforcement?

Reinforcing the desired operant response each time it is made.

What is a partial schedule of reinforcement?

Reinforcing the desired operant response only part of the time.

What is the partial-reinforcement effect?

Operant responses reinforced on partial schedules are more resistant to extinction than those reinforced on a continuous schedule.

What is a fixed-ratio schedule?

A partial schedule of reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after a fixed number of responses.

What is a variable-ratio schedule?

A partial schedule of reinforcement where the number of responses required for a reinforcer varies but averages to a set number.

What is a fixed-interval schedule?

A partial schedule of reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after a fixed amount of time.

What is a variable-interval schedule?

A partial schedule of reinforcement where the time between reinforcers varies but averages to a set amount.

What is motivation in the context of behavior?

A set of internal and external factors that energize behavior and direct it toward goals.

What is drive-reduction theory?

The theory that a bodily need creates a state of tension (drive) that motivates behavior to reduce the need.

What is incentive theory?

The theory that behavior is motivated by external stimuli (incentives) rather than internal drives.

What is arousal theory?

The theory that behavior is motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal.

What is the Yerkes-Dodson Law?

The principle that increased arousal aids performance up to a point, after which further arousal impairs performance.

What is extrinsic motivation?

The desire to perform a behavior to obtain an external reinforcement or to avoid an external aversive stimulus.

What is intrinsic motivation?

The desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake, with reinforcement provided by the activity itself.

What is the overjustification effect?

The phenomenon where external rewards diminish intrinsic motivation for an activity.

What is instinctual drift?

The tendency of an animal to revert to instinctual behaviors that interfere with learned responses.

What is latent learning?

Learning that occurs but is not demonstrated until there is an incentive to do so.

What is observational learning?

Learning by observing others and imitating their behavior.

What was the Bobo doll experiment?

A study by Albert Bandura demonstrating that children imitate aggressive behavior observed in adults.

What is the impact of media violence on behavior?

Research shows that media violence increases the risk of aggression and desensitization to violence.